“… our sense of exceptionalism as Duke students can bias us towards a grandiose elitism based in an almost pseudo-religious sentiment that “we are the chosen Duke students.” Such blind elitism ignores the fact that college admissions at the level of top tier institutions have very much evolved into a lottery-like system where randomized external and internal factors can decide the fate of a potential Blue Devil in an increasingly elephantine applicant pool.” …
Opinion.
http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2017/04/safety-net-of-the-nine-percent
Completely agree about elitism at Duke and good on this Duke editorial board for pointing it out. (OK, I couldn’t pass on that for Duke. Easy target).
As mentioned, Common App has increased applications at top schools, plus the Internet has educated students and parents about opportunities beyond one’s home state or region. Schools haven’t, and can’t easily, increase the size of their freshman classes so more and more highly qualified applicants won’t make the cut at their reach schools.
Johns Hopkins had a 24.3% acceptance rate in 2007 and in 2016 it was 11.9%. I expect other schools in the top 40 are or will follow this trend.
Common app and education about college options is good. Top 20 or bust isn’t. That’s the part we have to fix and not rejoice because “our” school is now more elite.